{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"From \u201cBehind Zero\u201d to Playing a Bigger Game: How to Stop Letting Your Past Define Your Future with Markus Kaulius","description":"What if the very experiences you\u2019ve been trying to leave behind are actually the things that qualify you to play a bigger game? In this episode of The Story Engine Podcast, I sit down with Markus Kaulius, a multi-exit entrepreneur, investor, author, and longtime student of personal development, to unpack the beliefs, habits, health, and faith that have shaped the man he is today. Markus grew up poor, in a broken family, and describes himself as starting \u201cbehind zero\u201d\u2014but instead of seeing that history as baggage, he learned to recognize it as the source of his work ethic, resilience, and ability to connect with people. We dig into why we so often write successful people off by assuming they were simply born that way, and how doing that protects us from having to challenge our own beliefs, identity, and assumptions. Then we go much deeper. Markus shares the system he uses to create the life he wants: identifying the habits that support that life, putting those systems in place, and trusting them long enough to work. We explore why health should come first if you want to give your best to your family and your work, why faith is about more than religion and can include having genuine faith in your own purpose, and what happened when Markus hit one of the lowest points of his entrepreneurial life during COVID. After his business dropped 70% in a single month, he found himself leading from fear and holding an all-hands meeting that made him realize he had become the leader he never wanted to be. What happened next completely changed the trajectory of his company. This conversation is ultimately about learning to see obstacles differently, moving from scarcity to abundance, and realizing that you may be much closer to playing the bigger game you were designed for than you think. Highlights (01:29) \u2013 From growing up poor and broken to becoming a multi-exit entrepreneur Markus opens up about growing up financially, emotionally, and spiritually disadvantaged\u2014and why he now considers that difficult background one of the greatest advantages he was given. (06:41) \u2013 Why we write successful people off\u2014and what that protects us from We unpack the psychology behind assuming someone\u2019s success came easily, and how dismissing their story allows us to avoid challenging our own beliefs, identity, and potential. (09:41) \u2013 Finding the \u201cyounger version\u201d of yourself who is still stuck in limiting beliefs Markus explains who he is really trying to reach when he speaks and coaches: the younger version of himself who believed he couldn\u2019t succeed because of his circumstances. (12:45) \u2013 Why the right mentor isn\u2019t necessarily the \u201cbest\u201d mentor Markus shares a powerful perspective on personal development: if someone\u2019s voice resonates with you and challenges you to take action, keep listening. If it doesn\u2019t, find another voice. (15:45) \u2013 The habit system behind Markus\u2019s success Instead of relying on discipline, Markus explains how he identifies the habits required to create the life he wants, puts systems in place, and then trusts the process instead of constantly looking for immediate results. (18:26) \u2013 Why your health might need to come before your business and family Markus challenges the idea that putting your health first is selfish and explains how starting his day with his body and energy actually allows him to show up better for his work, family, and relationships. (22:04) \u2013 Faith in yourself, faith in your purpose, and faith in something bigger We explore what happens when you genuinely believe you were put here for a bigger purpose\u2014and how that belief can completely change the way you approach your daily decisions. (27:24) \u2013 The COVID moment that forced Markus to confront his own limiting beliefs Markus takes us inside one of the darkest periods of his entrepreneurial journey, when his business dropped 70% in a month and fear about the future began affecting the way he led his team. (29:53) \u2013 The all-hands meeting that made him realize he had become the worst version of himself as a leader He shares the uncomfortable moment when he saw fear in his employees\u2019 faces and realized that his own panic and scarcity mindset were spreading throughout the organization. (32:13) \u2013 The obstacle isn\u2019t necessarily blocking you\u2014it may be preparing you Inspired by Ryan Holiday\u2019s The Obstacle Is the Way, Markus describes the breakthrough that helped him see his biggest challenges as the very things capable of making him stronger and more qualified. (33:23) \u2013 \u201cI\u2019m not a benchwarmer\u201d: The mindset shift that changed everything During prayer and meditation, Markus had a realization that snapped him out of his victim mindset: he wasn\u2019t meant to sit on the sidelines. He was meant to get back in the starting lineup. (34:34) \u2013 How one mindset shift created a new business opportunity within 24 hours Markus brought his executives together, changed the energy in the room, and asked a simple question: who needed warehouse space? Within 24 hours, the company had its first new contract\u2014and momentum began building again. (37:59) \u2013 Rewriting the story of your own life I reflect Markus\u2019s COVID experience back to him as a story, connecting the external crisis to the internal patterns he had carried since childhood and the moment he chose to recommit to his purpose. (43:35) \u2013 Why your life doesn\u2019t have to be perfect for the system to work We talk about the reality that personal transformation isn\u2019t something you \u201cfinish.\u201d New obstacles will always appear, but having a framework for reconnecting with yourself, your purpose, your health, and your faith can help you navigate whatever comes next. (45:25) \u2013 The message Markus wants you to take action on today Markus closes with a challenge: if something in this conversation resonated with you, don\u2019t dismiss it. Take action, become a better version of yourself tomorrow, and recognize that the world only gets one version of you. ","author_name":"The Story Engine Podcast","author_url":"https:\/\/podcast.thestoryengine.co\/","html":"